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What we’re about

This is a group for anyone wishing to learn Mandarin. We aim to provide a friendly community for anyone learning or wishing to learn Mandarin Chinese. We welcome people of all levels from beginner to native speaker. Founded, October 2009.

Reading text for 2024-2025
Stories of the Sahara - Ch. 4 - Child Bride (excerpt)
撒哈拉的故事 - 第四章 - 娃娃新娘（节录）
by: 三毛

The Three-Body Problem - Ch. 4 - The Frontiers of Science - Forty-plus years later (excerpt)
三体 - 第四章 - 三十八年后·科学边界（节录）
by: 刘慈欣

Links to all reading text files
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.

April Topics
April 5th - Saturday Afternoon event
用手工制造的东西 （如 Maria 的自家手作辣椒耳环）
Things made by hand (e.g. Maria's hand made chili earrings)
(inspired by Maria's earrings)

Mandarin Language Groups
We run small groups for beginners and intermediate learners so they can build up their Mandarin language skills in a friendly, constructive environment. Advanced learners can practice with each other and help beginners. Once or twice a month we will have social and reading meetups for learners of all levels, held online on Zoom, or offline in a venue likely to be in London.

Joining the meetup group
To be a member of this group, you need to have a profile photo in which you are recognizable as you. This helps people recognize each other at meetups. This is required for all members joining after January 2022. Also, please join the group in your personal capacity, not as a company or organization.

Zoom meetings
Please note that in our Zoom meetings, participants are encouraged to use the Zoom chat window to write down words and expressions to help each other learn. No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall responsibility for how the meetup is conducted. Where there is anti-social behaviour, such should be reported to the host.

Event Cancellation
Some groups cancel events at the last minute because there are too few signups. We will not do this. If an event is announced, it will be held. Unless there is inclement weather, a natural disaster or a serious transport strike, there will not be a cancellation.
If an event can only be held if a certain number of members sign up, this will be stated on the event page when the event is announced.

No-Flake, Zero No-show group
Group events often involve reservations at restaurants and hiring of venues. Organizers have to put in a lot of effort to set up the event. Members might change work schedules and travel far to meet other members. It is inconsiderate to the group and its members to sign up for in-person events and then send in a last-minute cancellation or do a no-show.

No-shows and flake outs undermine the relationship between organizers and members, and destroy the community spirit of meetups. The attendance record has a large role to play in deciding how we host future events, and in the extreme case, if we can even have events.

We should try to make our group a no-flake, zero no-show group. Let's make a commitment to respect each other, and support group events by showing up.

‘People feel they don’t owe anyone anything’: the rise in ‘flaking’ out of social plans - The Guardian

No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". All no-shows in all meetups from 2022 onwards have been marked as such, so the attendee lists all reflect actual attendance. For in-person meetups, no-shows will be recorded when and where it is practical to do so.

Group Links:
London Mandarin Learners Pages (Google Sheets)
Screenshots of all LML Pages (Google Docs)
London Mandarin Learners Message Board
Event Notes - 2022
List of links to Reading Text - 2022
List of Chinese English Language Exchange and Learning meetup groups in the UK and North America

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Banner graphic:

選對 - Choosing Right - Uploaded By Erica (Minhua) - February 23, 2014
Reading Meetup: Twenty Tips: 阅读活动：二十个推荐
- from LML photo album

Upcoming events (4+)

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